EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion Scholarship

Free and Reduced Lunch Program

Since the parish subsidizes a significant portion of the per pupil cost, we do not offer a parish tuition assistance program. However, options for financial assistance are available based on income eligibility through the Ohio Department of Education and Diocese of Cleveland for those who meet the criteria.

Confidentiality is always a major concern for families who seek to participate in assistance programs, and we ensure our procedures do not identify families or students within programs. Students participating in the programs are treated equally with their peers, and the only personnel aware of qualified families is administration and pertinent personnel.

We encourage families that may qualify to apply for assistance to lighten the burden of family expenses. If you have any questions, please refer to the application available for download or contact the school office. Diocese of Cleveland Tuition Assistance (FACTS Program)

Families of St. Anthony of Padua may apply for tuition assistance through the diocesan tuition assistance program, FACTS. Completion of the FACTS application does not guarantee tuition assistance, and the range of assistance will not cover the entire cost of tuition as awards vary from $100 to $1000 per student. The FACTS program opens mid-January and consists of two application rounds. Round one applications must be submitted by March 15. Round two applications must be submitted by June 1.

The application process for FACTS requires families to create an online account with FACTS and submit their financial information into the online portal at FACTS Online. There is a minimal submission fee for your application, and your financial need is compared with all applicants from the diocese. The need for assistance is determined by FACTS, and St. Anthony of Padua does not determine which families qualify for assistance. Families will be notified by the parish if they have qualified for tuition assistance from the diocese.

Links for FACTS are located in the sidebar; please contact the office if you have any questions.Ohio Department of Education: EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion Scholarship

For the 2019-2020 school year, St. Anthony of Padua is a provider of the EdChoice (Traditional) Scholarship and EdChoice Expansion (K-6, Income Eligibility) Scholarship. The EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion Scholarships are state scholarships through the Ohio Department of Education. Families eligible for these scholarships must renew their scholarship annually. Furthermore, students accepting these scholarships are subject to additional testing and other mandates determined by the state of Ohio. Families residing in Cleveland are not eligible for both EdChoice options due to a separate state scholarship called the Cleveland Scholarship.

Families may apply for these scholarships based on two different criteria. EdChoice (Traditional) applies to K-12 students who reside in districts where the child would be enrolled in a low performing school designated by the state. Students currently enrolled in a private school would not qualify for this scholarship unless they are new to the state of Ohio or are an incoming kindergartner whose future school has been designated as low performing. Upon acceptance, students would be required to complete state testing and other requirements by the state of Ohio.

For families who do not meet the eligibility requirements for the traditional EdChoice Scholarship, another scholarship, EdChoice Expansion, is available based on your child’s grade level (K-6) and family income. The EdChoice Expansion Scholarship is an option for students who are currently enrolled in private schools and who meet the grade level and income requirements. Students do not have to reside in a district with a low performing school to meet the qualifications of the expansion scholarship. Upon acceptance, students will be required to meet the same testing and state mandates as EdChoice.

The application timeline for EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion begins February 1 through April 30. A second round of EdChoice (Traditional) will be open from July 1 through July 31. Application submission forms will be made available on February 1, and we will update families with more information about the application process.

Partnered with the Diocese of Cleveland Nutrition Services, St. Anthony of Padua School offers a hot lunch program for students. The cost of a hot lunch is $2.75 and includes milk; individual cartons of milk are available for 50¢ each. Hot lunches may be ordered on a daily or monthly basis.

Through the Diocese of Cleveland Nutrition Services, St. Anthony of Padua participates in the USDA Child Nutrition Program for Free and Reduced Lunch. Families qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program based on income, and an application must be submitted annually. An application for the program is available in the sidebar and under the Family Resources Tab (Lunch Program). Families may print and submit a Free and Reduced Lunch Program application any time for the current school year. Another submission of the application will be required at the beginning of the school year to requalify for the program.